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There Was a Crooked Man

Name: There Was a Crooked Man
Director: Stuart Burge
Released: 1960
Duration: 107 min

Representation Score

3.2/10

Limited

1960

Director

Stuart Burge

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Stuart Burge’s film is a product of its 1960s context, adhering to the traditional Western genre. It reinforces established social hierarchies rather than challenging them. The film lacks intentionality in representing diverse identities. It focuses on the professional skills and interpersonal conflicts of men, leaving little room for diverse perspectives or underrepresented identities. While the film explores complex themes of moral ambiguity and situational ethics, these themes are limited to personal ethics rather than broader social critiques.

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Category Breakdown

Does There Was a Crooked Man have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional structure that assumes everyone is straight and cisgender. There are no queer narratives or non-cisgender identities present.

How does There Was a Crooked Man portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around male characters, with women playing minor roles. Men's actions drive the plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is There Was a Crooked Man?

Limited

The cast is mostly made up of people from similar backgrounds, reflecting the typical depiction of the American frontier during that time. It lacks diverse ethnic identities.

How does There Was a Crooked Man represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film explores themes of moral ambiguity and situational ethics through individual greed. However, it does not provide a broader critique of Western institutions.

Does There Was a Crooked Man include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters with disabilities are not given much importance. The story focuses on the main characters' physical conflicts.

Present on Screen

Explores nuanced themes of moral ambiguity and situational ethics.
Provides a clear, traditional genre experience consistent with 1960s Western clichés.

Limited or Absent

Lacks meaningful representation of diverse racial and ethnic identities.
Does not include characters with disabilities or neurodivergent traits.
Maintains a narrow, male-centric perspective with minimal female involvement.
Offers no presence of LGBTQ+ narratives or identities.

Official Synopsis

When a law-abiding demolition expert is duped by a gang of criminals into helping them he is caught and jailed. When he is released he goes straight and then notices a leading citizen in his town is cheating his neighbours.

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